Jewelry burglar targets Radnor homes

To some outside Radnor, it may be astonishing to hear that many residents in the community still leave their doors unlocked. At least one burglar has caught onto this.

Jean Eselgroth, a lifelong resident of the Wayne section of Radnor, is shocked.

"It's hard to imagine anything like that could happen here," she said.

It seems as of late, residents have been subjected to the reality of someone walking inside homes, uninvited, and exiting with all the jewelry they could take.

"They bypass other items of interest such as iPads, things of that nature, no electronics, it was just jewelry," Lt. Andy Block of the Radnor Police Department said.

In recent days, two homes, both of them unlocked, were burglarized in the 100 block of Walnut.

Police say, in both cases, the bandit went straight to the master bedrooms and took numerous items of jewelry.

On April 30th, a home in the 300 block of Chamounix Road was struck.

So far at least six homes have been struck including two that were locked.

Police believe the same person may be responsible.

Police also believe that person may be walking along SEPTA's R5 railroad tracks as their route of travel.

"On foot, to get in and out of the town, so we've stepped up patrols on all the SEPTA stations as well as along the railroad lines," Block said.

In Radnor, people have a strong sense of being immune to these types of crimes, but for the moment at least, that sense has been shattered.

"Here we go again type of thing because you hear about this type of stuff in Lower Merion, sometimes in Radnor, cars being broken into, but when it comes to houses and stuff, it's like, 'oh no not again! Time to watch your belongings, keep an eye out,'" Jim Hack of Wayne said.

"I think people have gotten lax maybe. I mean, we don't feel like we're subject to that because it has been such a close neighborhood for so long," Jean Eselgroth said.

Police are urging residents to lock their doors and activate their alarms if they have them.

Authorities believe the suspect knocks on people's doors and if anyone answers, he makes up a story that he's lost and needs directions or acts as if he's a salesman.

Police ask that you call 9-1-1 immediately and report any such activity because that may be the person they're looking for.